How to say "incompetence" in Japanese

• 無能むのうJLPT N1approx.Common
  na-adjective, no-adjectiveCovers incompetence in the sense of lacking ability or skill, especially of a person at work. It is a direct, often harsh way to call someone incompetent.
  あらゆる芸術げいじゅつ評論家ひょうろんか達たちは無能むのうであり危険きけんな存在そんざいである。↗

  Regard all art critics as useless and dangerous.
• 無力むりょくCommon
  na-adjective, no-adjectivePrimarily means powerlessness or helplessness — having no strength or means to affect a situation. For incompetence as a lack of skill it is seldom the word you want.
  「おまえの軍ぐんなど我わが軍ぐんに対たいしては無力むりょくだよ」と、彼かれは笑わらっていった。↗

  "Your army is impotent against mine!!" he laughed.
• 不行き届きふゆきとどきCommon
  na-adjective, nounCovers incompetence as careless or negligent handling of duties — work that falls short through insufficient attention. Typical in apologies for inadequate service or arrangements.
• 不能ふのうCommon
  nounMeans inability or impossibility — the state of being unable to do something. It is a marginal way to say 'incompetence'; for a person's lack of ability this is seldom the word you want.

Use 無能 for a person's lack of ability, 無力 for helplessness in a situation, 「不行き届き」 for careless or negligent handling of duties, and 不能 for inability or impossibility rather than personal incompetence.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• 無能むのうincompetence
• 無力むりょくpowerlessness
• 不行き届きふゆきとどきnegligence
• へたれincompetence
• 無能力むのうりょくincompetence
• 浅才せんさいincompetence
• 非才ひさいlack of ability
• 無才むさいlack of ability
• 能無しのうなしincompetent
• 不能ふのうincompetence